Oil change, does it really last for 16k?
06-14-2009, 10:59 AM
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06-14-2009, 11:09 AM
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An oil change after break in makes some sense, but other than that there's little to no reason to go by anything other than the manufacturer recommendation.
Until the 2009 model year Porsche was, believe it or not, requiring an oil change every 20,000 miles or two years on the 911 (the 997 uses fully synthetic oil). It's now been made annual w/e/f the latest model year, but that's more likely than not driven by marketing than engineering. Modern oil is immensely capable stuff. If my 911 can go 20,000 miles, a BMW is probably just fine at 12,000 to 15,000. I actually asked my dealer to do an interim change on my prior 2007 997S, and my SA told me not to bother. Given that with Porsche you don't get "free" maintenance, they turned away revenue and told me I would have been wasting my money...
We often see posts where people say that they're glad they changed the oil earlier than needed as it was dark and (ostensibly) contaminated. The reality, however, is generally that the oil is fine and the discoloration is simply a symptom of it doing its job as intended. Oil analysis from places like Blackstone will, more often than not, show that many of the early changers are throwing perfectly good oil down the drain...
Until the 2009 model year Porsche was, believe it or not, requiring an oil change every 20,000 miles or two years on the 911 (the 997 uses fully synthetic oil). It's now been made annual w/e/f the latest model year, but that's more likely than not driven by marketing than engineering. Modern oil is immensely capable stuff. If my 911 can go 20,000 miles, a BMW is probably just fine at 12,000 to 15,000. I actually asked my dealer to do an interim change on my prior 2007 997S, and my SA told me not to bother. Given that with Porsche you don't get "free" maintenance, they turned away revenue and told me I would have been wasting my money...
We often see posts where people say that they're glad they changed the oil earlier than needed as it was dark and (ostensibly) contaminated. The reality, however, is generally that the oil is fine and the discoloration is simply a symptom of it doing its job as intended. Oil analysis from places like Blackstone will, more often than not, show that many of the early changers are throwing perfectly good oil down the drain...
06-14-2009, 12:19 PM
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Originally Posted by swajames' post='911312' date='Jun 14 2009, 08:09 PM
Modern oil is immensely capable stuff. If my 911 can go 20,000 miles, a BMW is probably just fine at 12,000 to 15,000. I actually asked my dealer to do an interim change on my prior 2007 997S, and my SA told me not to bother. Given that with Porsche you don't get "free" maintenance, they turned away revenue and told me I would have been wasting my money...
We often see posts where people say that they're glad they changed the oil earlier than needed as it was dark and (ostensibly) contaminated. The reality, however, is generally that the oil is fine and the discoloration is simply a symptom of it doing its job as intended. Oil analysis from places like Blackstone will, more often than not, show that many of the early changers are throwing perfectly good oil down the drain...
We often see posts where people say that they're glad they changed the oil earlier than needed as it was dark and (ostensibly) contaminated. The reality, however, is generally that the oil is fine and the discoloration is simply a symptom of it doing its job as intended. Oil analysis from places like Blackstone will, more often than not, show that many of the early changers are throwing perfectly good oil down the drain...
+1 on that
We dont get free oil changes in the UK(or anywhere else but the USA i dont think) and the oil service intervals are the same. Oil and car companies haven't spent millions in deveolpment of their engines and oils to keep the service life the same as old engines running on mineral oils from 30 yrs ago. When was the last time anyone heard of an engine actually wearing out on a sythetic oil and requiring new crank bearings and piston rings, it just doesnt happen these days like it did.
06-14-2009, 02:43 PM
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What oil brand does BMW use anyway. Is it Mobil 1?
06-14-2009, 03:41 PM
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Originally Posted by swajames' post='911312' date='Jun 14 2009, 03:09 PM
An oil change after break in makes some sense, but other than that there's little to no reason to go by anything other than the manufacturer recommendation.
Until the 2009 model year Porsche was, believe it or not, requiring an oil change every 20,000 miles or two years on the 911 (the 997 uses fully synthetic oil). It's now been made annual w/e/f the latest model year, but that's more likely than not driven by marketing than engineering. Modern oil is immensely capable stuff. If my 911 can go 20,000 miles, a BMW is probably just fine at 12,000 to 15,000. I actually asked my dealer to do an interim change on my prior 2007 997S, and my SA told me not to bother. Given that with Porsche you don't get "free" maintenance, they turned away revenue and told me I would have been wasting my money...
We often see posts where people say that they're glad they changed the oil earlier than needed as it was dark and (ostensibly) contaminated. The reality, however, is generally that the oil is fine and the discoloration is simply a symptom of it doing its job as intended. Oil analysis from places like Blackstone will, more often than not, show that many of the early changers are throwing perfectly good oil down the drain...
Until the 2009 model year Porsche was, believe it or not, requiring an oil change every 20,000 miles or two years on the 911 (the 997 uses fully synthetic oil). It's now been made annual w/e/f the latest model year, but that's more likely than not driven by marketing than engineering. Modern oil is immensely capable stuff. If my 911 can go 20,000 miles, a BMW is probably just fine at 12,000 to 15,000. I actually asked my dealer to do an interim change on my prior 2007 997S, and my SA told me not to bother. Given that with Porsche you don't get "free" maintenance, they turned away revenue and told me I would have been wasting my money...
We often see posts where people say that they're glad they changed the oil earlier than needed as it was dark and (ostensibly) contaminated. The reality, however, is generally that the oil is fine and the discoloration is simply a symptom of it doing its job as intended. Oil analysis from places like Blackstone will, more often than not, show that many of the early changers are throwing perfectly good oil down the drain...
06-14-2009, 03:52 PM
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Originally Posted by vkhong' post='911302' date='Jun 14 2009, 11:48 AM
According to Blackstone oil analysis, my BMW High Performance Synthetic is almost due for replacement at 8,000 miles. I drive a 25% mix of city, the rest being highway. I change my own oil every 7,500 - 8,000 miles.
06-14-2009, 04:06 PM
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Originally Posted by vkhong' post='911302' date='Jun 14 2009, 02:48 PM
According to Blackstone oil analysis, my BMW High Performance Synthetic is almost due for replacement at 8,000 miles. I drive a 25% mix of city, the rest being highway. I change my own oil every 7,500 - 8,000 miles.
06-14-2009, 04:21 PM
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I agree that there is a neuroticism about changing oil. I got a CPO 530 in February and the on-board indicator said 11,000 to next change. I had oil changed two days ago at Valvoline with the computer system saying 7,000 to next change - it was 8,000 between changes. Glad I changed it to be honest. While I am not crazy about changing every 4-5 thousand, 15,000 seems like a long time. It's an inexpensive and easy thing to do to protect the car. The oil was really dirty black color but I guess it's supposed to be after 8,000 miles. BTW, Valvoline now has a 250,000 limited engine warranty if you service the car at their recommended intervals, something to think abut. The oil change was $77 with tax - money well spent given the cost of the car.